Shawnee
member
Anyone have any experience using 20 gauge rifled slugs on deer and/or hogs ?
20 gauge rifle slugs
- Thread starter Shawnee
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TCB in TN
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Not shot any myself (at least not with the 20, have shot a few hogs with 12ga), but had friends up in Indiana who used 20ga rifled slugs and to be honest they didn't seem to have any trouble inside say 150 yards. Even on those big corn fed Indiana deer!
In my experience I can say that a 12ga slug is good medicine for big hogs up close!
In my experience I can say that a 12ga slug is good medicine for big hogs up close!
redneck2
Member
I have a friend that hunts with a 20 gauge, rifled barrel. He's taken 5 deer that have made the record book.
I hunt with a 12 gauge. It has basically the same power as an elephant rifle (400 grains at 1,900 fps). Kinda overkill for a 175# animal, but that's what I've got.
If I had the choice, I'd get a 20. This is not 1950.
I hunt with a 12 gauge. It has basically the same power as an elephant rifle (400 grains at 1,900 fps). Kinda overkill for a 175# animal, but that's what I've got.
If I had the choice, I'd get a 20. This is not 1950.
GooseGestapo
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I've taken one hog with a 20ga slug.
It was with the Remington 5/8oz "Express" as sold by Walmart.
The ~250lb boar was hit in the right shoulder broadside at approx. 40yds. The pig was dropped at the shot as I broke both sholders.
The slug was recovered from the skin on the far side. It looks like a lead "washer" with a hole in the center where the hollow point opened up and stretched on expansion. The wound cavity looked like a "cookie" cutter went through him. The pig struggled to get up for 10-15sec. while I approached it. It was dead when I reached it, however.
With reasonable shot placement and ranges (under 100yds), the Foster type slugs are acceptable. Remember however that they are a poor ballistic shape and lose velocity rapidly and hence, energy.
From what some of my in-laws tell me, (who shoot a lot of deer on dog-hunts near Mobile, AL) there is little difference between the performance of the 20ga and 12ga. Especially with the newer sabot type slugs.
I typically hunt small game these days with a 20ga shotgun (if not hunting with a rimfire), so a pig is a target of "opportunity". Hence, I carry a few slugs with me and previous target the gun to be sure where it prints. Hence, it's what I had at the time.
It was with the Remington 5/8oz "Express" as sold by Walmart.
The ~250lb boar was hit in the right shoulder broadside at approx. 40yds. The pig was dropped at the shot as I broke both sholders.
The slug was recovered from the skin on the far side. It looks like a lead "washer" with a hole in the center where the hollow point opened up and stretched on expansion. The wound cavity looked like a "cookie" cutter went through him. The pig struggled to get up for 10-15sec. while I approached it. It was dead when I reached it, however.
With reasonable shot placement and ranges (under 100yds), the Foster type slugs are acceptable. Remember however that they are a poor ballistic shape and lose velocity rapidly and hence, energy.
From what some of my in-laws tell me, (who shoot a lot of deer on dog-hunts near Mobile, AL) there is little difference between the performance of the 20ga and 12ga. Especially with the newer sabot type slugs.
I typically hunt small game these days with a 20ga shotgun (if not hunting with a rimfire), so a pig is a target of "opportunity". Hence, I carry a few slugs with me and previous target the gun to be sure where it prints. Hence, it's what I had at the time.
MCgunner
Member
I often carry my double with one slug as for just in case I stumble upon a hog while I'm out there. The other barrel will be loaded with shot for rabbit or whatever. I like the combination gun versatility of it and it's a handy little coach gun. It's plenty accurate to 50 yards with fosters and I figure it's getting weak much past that anyway.
I read a deal a while back on some site comparing ballistics of various 20 gauge slugs. They claimed the Breneke slugs were plenty for deer to 100 yards, but showed quite a loss of velocity/energy for the foster types past 50 yards. As I wouldn't shoot past 50 with my double for accuracy reasons anyway, I load it with fosters. I'd think a Breneke from a rifled 20 gauge barrel would be effective to 100 yards if it's accurate enough. If I'm shooting that far, I want a rifle, though. I don't live in one of those Gestapo shotgun only states.
I read a deal a while back on some site comparing ballistics of various 20 gauge slugs. They claimed the Breneke slugs were plenty for deer to 100 yards, but showed quite a loss of velocity/energy for the foster types past 50 yards. As I wouldn't shoot past 50 with my double for accuracy reasons anyway, I load it with fosters. I'd think a Breneke from a rifled 20 gauge barrel would be effective to 100 yards if it's accurate enough. If I'm shooting that far, I want a rifle, though. I don't live in one of those Gestapo shotgun only states.
Shawnee
member
Many Thanks for the input, Gentlemen !
Reason I asked was my dentist was talking about taking his young son deer-hunting for the firs time but has reservations because the lad is sorta small for his age (13) and Papa didn't know how the boy would take to the recoil of a 12 ga. Neither of us had any experience with 20s on deer.
The whole thing gives me an idea, though.... which I'll explain in the new post about "Slugs for Deer" on the Shotgun board.
Reason I asked was my dentist was talking about taking his young son deer-hunting for the firs time but has reservations because the lad is sorta small for his age (13) and Papa didn't know how the boy would take to the recoil of a 12 ga. Neither of us had any experience with 20s on deer.
The whole thing gives me an idea, though.... which I'll explain in the new post about "Slugs for Deer" on the Shotgun board.
Kingcreek
Member
I killed a couple good-sized Illinois whitetail with a 20g Ithaca deerslayer smooth bore and foster type slugs before giving it to my sister, and she has killed several with it since. The featherwt Ithaca kicks almost like a 12 but the 20g slug always did its job. Be aware, it is not unusual for the slug to stop under the hide on the off side instead of pass thru (maybe 50%?). never had a failure to recover though in 10-12 deer.
HB
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- Dec 18, 2007
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I just posted this in the Shotgun Forum:
The first time I went deer hunting I used a 20 gauge slug out of a smoothbore. The second or third day of the season, a decent 6 pointer walked in about 50-60 yards from me. I got ready and took ashot but missed completely ....... Missouri is not a sluggun state so the next weekend I picked up a nice .30-30 for $190 and it has done a good job on deer.
A 60 yard shot was a little long but still should have been do-able but no luck. It wasn't me I don't think, I had shot maybe 10 boxes of ddiffernet slugs to practice. Federal, Winchester, Remmington and even the old Activ's
The gun shot ok but I much prefer a rifle even at close range. It allows you to shoot through a hole and not have to wait for a clear shot that may never come. I do feel however that a dedicated slug gun would be an excellent deer gun.
The 20 gauge slug has plenty of power but the big concern is accuracy. Find a slug that shoots well and stick to a maximum range.
HB
The first time I went deer hunting I used a 20 gauge slug out of a smoothbore. The second or third day of the season, a decent 6 pointer walked in about 50-60 yards from me. I got ready and took ashot but missed completely ....... Missouri is not a sluggun state so the next weekend I picked up a nice .30-30 for $190 and it has done a good job on deer.
A 60 yard shot was a little long but still should have been do-able but no luck. It wasn't me I don't think, I had shot maybe 10 boxes of ddiffernet slugs to practice. Federal, Winchester, Remmington and even the old Activ's
The gun shot ok but I much prefer a rifle even at close range. It allows you to shoot through a hole and not have to wait for a clear shot that may never come. I do feel however that a dedicated slug gun would be an excellent deer gun.
The 20 gauge slug has plenty of power but the big concern is accuracy. Find a slug that shoots well and stick to a maximum range.
HB
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